Sewing machine



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"QAQANNETT;

4 SEWING MACHINE.' No. 296.106. f Patented Apr. 1, 1884.

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UNITE STATES PATE T SEWING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,106, dated April 1, 1884.

' Application filed March 13, 1883. (Model) To all-whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. ANNETT, of Sutherlands Corners, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented a new and Improved Sewing-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

' My improvements relateto sewing-machines of the class in which a stationary shuttle and a rotary hook are employed in connection with a reciprocating needle and four-motion-feed My improvements have two principal ob- I jects: first, to operate the parts by which the sewing is performed directly from the main driving-shaft, and, second,'to arrange the machine so that as far as possible one movement shall accomplish the work heretofore requiring two movements, and thereby to reduce the number of moving parts to a minimum.

The invention relates, especially, to the needle and take-up mechanism, which I combine in such a manner as to accomplish by one movement the work of two essential parts,

. g and I also arrange them so that the thread will be slackened as the eye of the needle enters the goods, whether they be thick or thin. It

. also relates to the feed mechanism; to a device for lifting the presser-bar, by which the tension on the thread is automatically released at the moment the bar is lifted; to the general construction of the machine and the manner of supporting it on the stand or table; to a shuttle-bedand rotary hook, and to essential parts of the machine, all as will be set forth more particularlyhereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had-to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in allthefigures.

1 Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a sewing-machine of my improved construction, a portion of the bed or table being also shown in section. Fig. 2 is a front View ofthe head partially broken open to show the working parts. Fig. 3 is a face View of the head with,

the faceplate in place. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the head. Fig. 5' represents the crank-pin of the needle-bar. Fig. 6 is an'incase verted plan view of the feed mechanism. Fig.

\showing the different positions of the hook while in operation. A is the bed or table. B is the arm of the machine formed with the head 0.

a is the driving-shaft extending through the hollow arm B, and provided witha balancewheel, a, and grooved pulley 61?, for the driving-belt.

b is the shaft that operates the revolving hook and the feed mechanism. This shaft, instead of extending beneathor parallel to the bed of the machine, as usual, extends from the bed of the machine at the hook in an inclined direction upward to the rear end of the shaft a, to which it is connected by eccentric gearing b, which may be placed within the hollow arm B; or, as shown, the gearing may be placed upon the outside and the balancewheel recessed to cover the gearing. The shaft 22. is inclosed in a hollow arm, D, which is cast in one piece with the arm B. The head C is also cast integral with the arm E, and is also hollow, and has an opening in the face which is sufficiently large to give access for arm, and in such a position that when the machine is tilted back the pulley of the bobbinwinder comes in contact with the face of the driving -wheel 0 the bobbin-winder thus serving as a stopfor' the machine. The machine is nearly balanced upon the hinge-pin d, so that it can easily be tilted in either direction, and when thrown backward the ad ditional weight carried over is sufficient to retain the machine in that position for wind-- ing the bobbin.

I prefer to use a latch or catch of anysuitable character for retaining the machine in its forward or working position, and by having the machine nearly balanced upon its sup port the strain of the driving-belt,extending from the main pulley O to the pulley a is sufficient to tilt the machine backward as soon as the catch is drawn back or released. The screw-bar d also allows the machine to be raised above the bedA sufficiently to clear the shuttle-bed and connected parts from the table, so as to allow the goods to pass beneath the hook and shuttle-bed. Suitably propped in this position the machine can be used for sewing hats, boots, and shoes, as they may be passed beneath the lower end of thearm D in the sapie manner as in a cylinder-machine. This adjustment avoids the necessity of cutting the table away for doing the class of work named.

.At the lower end of arm D, and above the looping mechanism, is fitted a throat or covering-plate, u.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2,

3, and 4, e is the presser-bar, carrying the foot e. f is theneedle-bar. f is the crank-wheel on the drivingshaft a, and g is the eccentric fitted beneath the arm f on the presser-bar for raising thelatter when required. This eccentrio 9 is fixed upon the pivot-pin c of the faceplate (2, both the plate and the eccentric being supported by a suitable bearing in the head, so that when the face-plate is turned eitherto the right or left the eccentric will act to raise the presser-bar. In this manner I dispense with the separate lever usually required for operating the eccentric that raises the presser-bar, and utilize the face-plate or cover of the head as alever for that purpose, and as the opening in the head serves also to give access to the parts for oiling, there is thus combined an adjustable face-plate oil-hole cover and lever in a single piece of metal to do the work usually requiring three parts. In addition I make use of the eccentric for releasing the tension and slackening the thread, so as to allow goods to be taken from the machine, or forwinding bobbins. For that purpose the tension-plate g is made with an arm, 9, bent or formed so that its inner end is in contact, or nearly so,

' with the eccentric g, so that when the eccentrio is turned in. one direction it will not only act to raise the presser-bar, but, by contact with the arm, will force the tension-plate g outward, and thus release the thread. The

p tension plate or spring may carry a wheel,

clamp, or other tension device. These parts constitute a tension-releaser, and i will be observed that the action of moving the tensionplate takes place before the presser-bar is raised, and also that when the eccentric is turned to the left'the presser-bar is raised without any action of the eccentric upon the arm 9. Further, the construction is such that the take-up extends to the upper part of the Sc head 0. By this construction the take-up partakes of the reciprocating motion that is given to the needle-bar by the crank-disk without additional mechanism and bearings being required, the one mechanism thus doing the 8 work of two essential parts of a sewing-machine.

At 2' is an arm, which I term the tilter, hinged at t" to the arm f of the presser-bar e, so that it shall move with the presser-bar. At about its midlength the tiltert'is slotted to take upon a fixed pin, 2, and its outer end is formed with an eye, through which the thread passes to the eye on the outer end of the take-up h. The object and function of this device is to automatically regulate the slackening of the thread, so that it will occur only as the eye of the needle enters the goods. The eye at the outer end of the tilter is positioned by the presser-bar, the eye being low- 100 cred as the bar raises, and vice versa. In the case of sewing thick goods, the eye on the end of the tilter will be lowered by the raising of the presser-bar and the eye on the take-up it moved upward on the elliptic path (shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2) until it reaches a point at about 1which is on line with and farthest from the eye of the tilter-when the take-up will cease to draw the thread, and from that point the thread is slackened. This occurs at the time when the eye of the needle is at the surface of the goods. On the other hand, should the presser-foot be down for sewing thin goods, the eye on the tilter will be raised and the take-up will draw upon the thread until it reaches a point at 2, which is lower than point 1, and farthest from and in line with the eye of the tilter, when the thread will begin to slacken. In this manner the tilter is regulated by the foot, and the foot is regulated by the thickness of the goods; hence, the action is automatic. This arrangement avoids the disadvantages of machines in which the thread is slackened at a fixed point without reference to the thickness of the goods,which, in the case of sewing light goods, allows a loop to be formed above, unless extra tension is applied to draw the loop down when forming the stitch; and in sewing very heavy goods, the thread fails to slacken until the eye is below the top of the goods, so that there is danger of breaking the thread. The tilter being actuated by the presser-bar alone and having no connection with any of the other moveinents, all eccentrics, pins, or other devices for regulating the length and duration of the movement of the take-up are dispensed with, e and the motion being direct and positive is more accurate. It is to be observed here that the movement of the take-up is not regulated by the presser-bar, as is the case with some machines, but the tilter is regulated by the l presser-bar, and that automatically. This ro allows the takeup to move in the ordinary 1 manner, and yet the take'up becomes the 1, means by which the thread is slackened at the proper time. .There being but few parts, and of simple construction, a large amount of .15 friction is dispensed with. There is practically no friction at all.

The feed mechanism (shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 6) consists as follows: k is the feed-bar, fixed on the end of a rod,

r k, of steel or other spring metal, that extends r backward a suitable distance. and is secured a firmly to a fixed projection beneath the armD. Upon the shaft 12 is an eccentric. l,which is r 1 y of conical form or-is made with a larger pro- 2 5 jection at one end than at the other. i i e Z is a roller, loose upon the rod is and bearing upon the cam Z.

y i Is 7& are rods attached at one end to a collar, Z upon the rod k by means of a thumb-screw, 3o so as to be adjusted thereon, and having their I outer ends bent to engage the roller Z, so that by adjustment of the collar Z and rods k the i l the length of the cam l,according as to whether ashort or a long stitch is desired, the stitch being lengthened as the roller approaches the larger portion of the cam. The rod kisat- 1 tached only at its one end, as described so i that it serves both as a lever and a spring to 4o give a downward andbackward movement to the feed-bar. The eccentric raises the feedbar k in theusual way, and the rod 7c springs downward after the eccentric has passed. By

, e i i this construction I dispense with the small 4 5 spring usually employed for the feed mechanit ism, and by usinga roller instead of the rigid f horn and cam generally employed, I avoid a large. amount of friction and wear; also, by

r 1 H e the adjustment of the roller, instead of the cam, the cam can be attached to the shaft simply by i a screw, and the necessity. of cutting a groove in the shaft, to prevent the cam from revolv- 3 ing as it slides along the shaft, is avoided. This y construction also combines the stitch-regulator 5 5 and feedmechanism in such a mannerthat they move or oscillate together, audno guide being required for the feed-bar, a large amount of friction in thesepartsis thus avoided. The

thumb-screw by which the collar Z is held may 6o be at any convenient point and placed above an indicator for guiding its movement in regulating the length of the stitch. The .pressere foot 6' is clamped upon the lower end of the l bare by means of a set-nut, e, and upon the same thread is. a second nut, e, that serves as asupport for the lower end of a spring, 6 by 11 which the presser-bar is moved downward.

roller Z will he held in any desired position in By turning the nut 6* to the right or left the pressure of the spring is increased or diminished and the spring 6 is made large enough to take at its end over a bearing, a projecting from the head 0, and a flange, at on the nut e, the object being to prevent the spring from coming in contact with the presser-bar, so

n is the hook upon an arm, n", that is attached to the end of the shaft b.

0 isastationary disl ,attacl1ed to an arm, n, by which the disk is normally held in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 1).

0 is the bobbin upon apin, 0 that is formed at the lower portion of the shuttle m.

p is a support projecting from the hollow .arm D and carrying a pin, 19, on which the arm n, that carries the disk 0, is hung, so that the disk can be drawn down when required, and upon the lower end of'the arm n is a lug or projection, if, that bears upon a spring, 1?,

in such a manner that the arm and disk are held by the spring in either position. Upon the pin p the shuttle-bed q is also hung by an arm, g, (see Figs. 2 and.l0,) so that the bed may be turned upward to retain the shuttle or backward to release the same, and the arm q is provided with a projection, g taking against a spring, g by which the bed is held in either position. The movements in either direction of the disk 0 and shuttle-bed qare limited by suitable stops, and the disk 0 is held in its raised position, so that it shall not come in contact with the hooks-rm n bobbin to lie against, instead of having the bobbin shut against a rotary disk,as is usually the case. This dispenses with the usual friction between the bobbin and disk, and the stationary disk also allows the thread to pass the shuttle better.

By reference to Figs. 2 and 7 it will be seen that the bobbin is held at the right side of the center of the disk 0. The object of this is to allow the hook to carry the thread around the bobbin quicker than it could with the bolubin placed at the center, and thereby allowing the take-up to draw the thread from the hook the sooner. This quicker movement of the thread :draw the thread in a straight line to the eye of the needle, rather than upon the surface of thebobbin,the movement can bemade quicker. The. arm n, as shown in Figs. 7 and S, is at one side, so that the thread can be drawn up between the arm and the stationary disk,while the hook continuing in its movement passes on the outside of the arm.

cause the bed to shut again to its place.

The bulge or protuberance m upon the shuttle is for causing the shuttle-thread to be drawn up upon the left side of the needle, and for that purpose is made with a thrcad-opening, niandit also servesto keep the shuttle from rising in its bed. The hook n'catches the thread upon the right side of the needle, and the lower thread being drawn up at the left side of the needle, the hook is prevented from catching upon it. By thus having the hook to catch the loop upon the right side of the needle, the hook is more readily constructed and the thread is not twisted when drawn from the hook, and will leave or draw off the hook more readily and quickly. In Fig. 12 the hook is shown as just entering the loop or upper thread. By its continued movement it spreads the thread in the usual manner, and by the time the hook has moved below the bulge m, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, the thread has entered upon the shuttle, one thread on each side. The hook then carries the thread down to thelower position, by which time the thread has nearly cleared the bobbin. The hook then moving upward in line with the point 4, Fig. 7, the thread is cleared from the bobbin and is drawn up by the take-up on the inside of the arm a, the thread readily passing the bulge m upon the shuttle. Fig. 11 shows the position of the hook to the right or back of the needle just as it enters upon the loop. Fig. 13 shows the hook as turned halfway around, and the thread as carried around by the hook; and in this figure the position of the two threads upon the hook is shown; and it will be observed that the thread at the left side can be more readily drawn off the hook, because it lies near the point, and this left thread is the one that in this case is drawn off by the take-up, so that the work is done more readily and without twisting the thread, this operation resulting from the loop being caught upon the right side of the needle. The hook is made shar1 -pointed and ot the usual shape, so as to spread the thread, as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 14, in which the hook is shown as looked at from above. '1" in this figure is the needle-hole, the cast offr of the hook being directly below, and it will be observed that a thread to be in a straight line from the cast-oft to the hook must lie very close to the point. The thread will remain the same distance from the point of the hook when the hook is turned in the position shown in Fig. 18; but necessarily the thread cannot bein a straight line, as it is bent around the cast-olf, as shown in Fig. 15, and to assume a straight line the thread must move toward the point of the hook. Now, by reference to Fig. 14 it will be seen that the hook inclines toward the needle, while the cast-off rinclinesfrom the needle;thereforethe thread, in assuming a straight line, will move toward the point of the hook, this result being obtained by the formation of the cast-off with the hook, as described. In Fig. 15 the hook and cast-off are shown in larger size in position after the thread has passed the under side of the bobbin. It will be seen that the thread that is nearest the point of the hook'is not in a straight line, and, being bent around the cast-off, as soon as it is tightened by the takeup it will move toward the point of the hook. The cast-off and hook combined in this manner allow the take-up to draw the thread more quickly than if the hook alone were used.

By the construction of the shuttle-bed. and stationary disk, as before described. I obtain an automatic ejectment of the shuttle when the shuttle-bed is moved back, as illustrated in Fig. 10. WVhen the stationary disk and the shuttle are turned back upon the rod or pin 1), the disk 0 passes to a certain point and then stops; but the shuttle bed q is so arranged that its spring causes it to open farther than the disk, thus leaving aspace between the disk and the shuttle-bed. This space is necessary to allow the operator to draw the shuttle; but the shuttle need not be drawn by hand because the movement in opening is made so quickly that the shuttle is thrown out from between the bed and disk, so that these parts constitute an automatic shuttle-ejector. I also provide for accomplishing this movement simultaneously with the movement of tilting back the machine. For that purpose, as shown in Fig. l, the arm a, carrying the disk 0,is provided with apivoted tripper, s, which, in the normal position of the machine, lies below a fixed pin, .9. Vhen the machine is tilted automatically by the pressure of the driving-belt, as before described, the tripper 8 comes up against the pins, and as the machine continues to rise the disk 0 and the shuttle -bed q. are caused to move outward, and the shuttle-bed opening beyond the disk, as before described, a space is formed through which the shuttle is ejected upon the stand. In this manner the one movement acts to effect three essential operations. The tripper is pivoted so that when the machine is closed down again it will readily pass the pin s. have the disk 0 remain closed when the machine is tilted, the tripper s will be removed In case it is preferred to two pieces to be screwed together after the from-the arm a, thereby allowing the machine to tilt up and down without the tripper coming in contact with the pin 8. In case it is preferredito automatically open the shuttlebed alone, the tripper will be attachedto the bed, so that when the machine is raised the bed will be moved back, and the disko remain closed.

In addition to the advantages before named of the different features of my improved construction, there are other advantages, as follows: By constructing the machine with the oblique, arm, as shown, a great deal of surplus material is saved, and the arms and head being all cast in one piece, the only adjustment thatis necessary is of the gear-wheels and of the needle-bar, presser-bar,&c., in the head.

The needle bar is adjusted through the opening that is covered bythe plate 0, and I thereby save the necessity of casting the head in mechanism is adjusted. A further advantage of the oblique arm is thatthe ordinary bed or plate is dispensed with, and the machine strengthened where itis needed, and with much lessmaterial than is ordinarily used. Further, much simpler mechanism is required for moving the rotary hook, and a continuous propelling device used in place of those having a reciprocating movement. By the oblique arrangement of the driving-shaft the stationary disk and the shuttle-bed stand obliquely; consequently the shuttle will lie in its place better, and will not be so apt to bear against the stationary disk as'when perpendicular supports are used. The shaft 12 crosses the rod of the feedmechanism at a level with the throat-plate, which. allows the eccentric to act upon the roller closely to the throatplate, thus preventing the rod from twisting as it forces the goods along. Combined as shown and described, they form a complete machine, having comparatively few moving parts and with direct connections to the driving'shaft.

The essential movements required in operating a machine are combined in such a manner as to save time, avoid friction, and serve the convenience of the operator, this being done by reducing the number of parts rather than by complicating the machine.

By constructing the machine so that the head can be tilted, the throwing of the machine out of gear, and the bobbin-winder in gear, or vice versa, is madeasimple operation, andthe ejectment of the shuttle at the same time is provided for. It also avoids the necessity ofcutting away the table and the removal of part of the throat-plate in order to reach the shuttle, and the usual loose pulley is not required, as the band hangs loosely in the deep groove of the drive-wheel.

The eccentric gearing serves to give the rotary hook alternately a fast and a slower motion.

I am aware that a take-up has been made in one piece with the bar that connects the needle-bar to a crank on a shaft having an intermittent motion, and therefore do not claim such invention.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-.

1. A sewing-machine hinged to a support which is adjustably attached to the table, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination, with asewing-machine and its supporting-table, of the screw (Z, hinged to the machine and passing through an aperture in the table, substantially-as herein shown and described. I

3. In sewing-macl1ines,the combination, with the hollow arm B, the oblique arm D, and driving-shafts, of the looping mechanism with the supporting and adjusting screw cl, substantially as described, for the purpose of adjust ing the arm above the table, as specified.

4. In a sewing-machine, the combination, with the drivingwheel 0 of the hinged arm D, and the bobbin-winder d on said arm, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. In a sewing-machine, the combination, with the hollow arm B and the obliquehollow arm D, of the drive-shaft a, the oblique shaft 1), the hook it, attached directly to the end of the said oblique shaft, and the eccentric gearing b, substantially as herein shown and described.

6. In sewingmachine feed mechanism, the combination of rod roller Z, bar It", adjustable sleeve Z, and conicaleccentric l, substantially asshown and described.

7. In a sewing-machine, the combination, with the arm D, having a projection on its under surface, and the driving-shaft I), provided with an eccentric, of the spring-rod 70, secured to the projection of the arm D, and feed-bar k on the end of said rod, substantially as herein shown and described.

,8. In a sewing-machine, the combination, with the arm D, having a projection on its under surface, and the drive-shaft I), provided with the conical eccentric Z, of the spring-rod is, secured to the projection on the arm, D and carrying the feed-bar 7c, the roller 1, and means for adjusting the same on the spring-rod, substantially as herein shown and described.

9. In a sewing-machine, the combination, with the presser-bar 6, provided with the arm f and the eccentric y, for operating the presserbar, of the tension-plate provided with the arm projecting over to the eccentric, substan tially as herein shown and described,whereby the tension-plate will be operated .by direct contact of its arm with the eccentric, as set forth.

10. In a sewingmachine, the combination, with thehead 0, having an opening in its face, and the presser-bar 6, provided with the arm f of the pivoted plate a, and the eccentric g, fitted upon the pivot of said plate,,substantially as herein shown anddescribed,whereby the plate serves the double purpose of closing the opening in the head, and a means for operating theeccentric, as set forth.

11. In a sewing-machine, the combination,

with the head 0, having an openingin its face, the presser-bar e,provided with the arm fiand the tension-plate 9, provided with the arm 9*, of the pivoted plate 0 and the eccentric g, fitted upon the pivot c of the said plate, substantially as herein shown and described.

12. In a sewing-machine, the combination, with the head 0, provided with the hub a and the presser-bar e, of the nut 0, provided with the hub a, and the spring 6 substantially as herein shown and described.

13. In a seivingmachine, the combination, with the hinged shuttle-bed q, of the nonrotating disk 0, secured to the hinged arm a, substantially as herein shown and described.

14. The combination of hinged arm a, disk 0, hinged shuttle-bed q, and springs a q", substantially as described.

15. The combination of hinged disk 0, at l taehed at one side to its supporting-arm n, the shuttlebed q, and the shuttlem, held by a pin, l 0 at one side of and below the center of the 5 disk 0. substantially as described. I 16. The shuttle m,formed with bulge m and I aperture a, combined with hook '22, disk 0, and bed q, substantially in the manner described.

17. In a sewing-machine, the combination, with the oblique arm D, hinged to the table A, provided with the pin 8, of the hinged disk 0, provided with the tripper s, and the hinged shuttle-bed q, substantially as herein shown and described.

18. In a sewing-machine, the combination, with the head 0, provided with the pin 6 and the presser-bar e, of the tilter-arm i, pivoted to the prcsser-bar, and having a slot to receive the pin of the head, substantially as herein shown and described.

19. In asewing-machine, the combination, with the presser-bar e, of the tilter i, pivotally connected to the same, and the take-up 71, made in one piece with the connection h, that con nects the needle-bar with the eccentric, substantially as herein shown and described.

GEO. A. ANNETT. Witnesses:

WV. R. HICKEY, W. G. SHAW. 

